No, this is not the usual, boring gazillionth movie review of “Master and Commander”, but merely a re-watch and kind of a pastime: How would this film look like today and, maybe a bit more important or interesting, why I hope that they´d never do a sequel to this cinematic masterpiece. Let´s delve into the fantastic story, some behind-the-scenes facts and analysis of this all time favorite classic sailing movie.
When “Master and Commander” hit the movie theaters back in 2003 it wasn´t an instant blockbuster. As Russel Crowe, who is the lead character of Captain “Lucky” Jack Aubrey, put it in an interview, it was “Pirates of the Caribbean” which got its release a few months earlier, which kind of stole the stage for the movie with glowing reviews of this “fun movie” clearly outshining the much darker, demanding and mature “Master and Commander”.
For me personally, “Master and Commander” clearly is the single best classic sailing movie to date, such as it is “Das Boot” for World War 2- and submarine-movies. This film combines a very, very well written script, a believable plot with action that isn´t dependent on exhausting and over-exaggerating CGI trickery with excellent acting and an intellectually demanding story. I´ve re-watched this gem a dozen or so time, lastly yesterday with my kids. After the final cut, my older son asked me: “Dad, is there a second part showing how they managed to catch up with the ACHERON?” This was the spark for me to think a bit more about a potential sequel – and I am honestly hoping that there is none.
Friendship, transfigured into “Bromance”
You might be surprised to read this, because, who does not want to enjoy watching the subsequent events unfolding after the crew of the SURPRISE realized the imminent danger aboard their prize ship? We all would, wouldn´t we? But in the face of all the cinema-shlock that has been released, I fear Hollywood is not the same anymore. Let´s take a look at the main theme of “Master and Commander”, the friendship between Captain Aubrey and the ship´s surgeon, Dr. Maturin.
It is portrayed in the most sensible, honest and … innocent way. True friendship, two people torn between their mutual feelings toward each other and the necessities, burden and cruel reality of military life – for Aubrey – and the almost childlike admiration for the wonders of nature, the urge for purely scientific discovery and human strive to learn and widen the horizon of knowledge. I fear, “modern” Hollywood would rather castrate this, reduce it to the all-so-trendy “Bromance” or even come up with a gay story. Don´t get me wrong here: The cleverly timed and awesome played cliffhanger which revealed the gay relationship between Captain Flint with Thomas Hamiltun kind of defined the awesome “Black Sails” series and therefore perfectly fitted as a narrative. The same would have destroyed “Master and Commander”, I am sure.
The awesomeness and deep message of “Master and Commander” is not the strength of a gay, i.e. “forbidden”, relationship between to men (or women), but the fight between friendship and loyalty. This is so well portrayed in “Master and Commander”, both internally and externally. This little scene when Captain Aubrey smiles at the indigenous woman, just two seconds, is a perfect example: What would he be like, if he wouldn´t wear that uniform? Also, the wonderful heartbreaking scene when he looks at the empty chair with the string bass, whilst his friend battles for his life after he got shot. The highs and lows of a friendship, the struggle of patriotism and military service and being a human is the true center of this film. I don´t think that they´d make that movie today.
Loyalty, duteousness and other forgotten traits
“Master and Commander” so perfectly well manages to quickly draw us into the world of the nineteenth century. This is best seen by analyzing the roles of the young officers aboard SURPRISE: Those are children, merely adolescent, but put into a uniform – or even worse, utilized as ship´s boys – and subjected to the cruelties of seafaring with all its dangers, and the butchering of war. Those young boys needed to adapt, deal with slaughter, blood and the worst of humans – and the potential and factual loss of friends. And limbs. This is the dark side of “Master and Commander”, and if you have kids yourself, you instantly understand what I mean.
Such a brutal insight into the customs and realities of that past “glorious times” are rare. Today, movies need to be visually breathtaking, I fear, concealing and painting over the lack of writing with soul- and brainless CGI-explosions and “never seen” special effects. This flick however manages to build a believable, truly awe-inspiring world with practical effects and life sized props. Something that not very much later after its premiere sealed its fate: Grossing “only” around 210 million US-Dollars was far too less for the studios to greenlight a sequel, much more so if you look at the – for that time – high production costs of some 150 million US-Dollars. Johnny Depp´s pirate shenanigans may have put the sequel over the edge in the end.
Perfect storytelling and character arcs
“Master and Commander” demands for certain intelligence and also basic knowledge of historical context to fully understand it. Exposition is minimal, which is a treat in contrast to the over-exposition of contemporary movies. A fact that not long ago was harshly criticized by actor Ben Affleck, who expressed his despair that his characters have to explain stuff three times because the audience nowadays doesn´t really watch a movie, but rather fiddling with their “second screens”.
The characters of “Master and Commander” are all well laid-out and everyone has a different, gripping, demanding and sometimes chilling arc. Aubrey has to put his service and allegiance to the fleet aside to save his dear friend, who, in turn, must learn to accept his role within the war-machine. The tragic character of Mr. Hollom, wonderful and empathically played by Lee Ingleby concludes in catastrophe, the one of the not less awesome played young Lord William Blakeny, may be one of the most heart-wrenching and touching. Every single one of these get their screentime, and the time to being introduced, develop and concluded. From the lead roles to the supporting acts and even the smaller roles, like the friendship between the seamen Warley and Nagle. Masterfully written!
Today, I fear, the focus would be on the battle scenes. Which is hard to imagine since the fighting shown in “Master and Commander” is absolute apex cinema! From 1:1 life-sized ships to their models exchanging gun fire, engulfed in heavy smoke and noise of battle to the awesome scenes depicting 18th century musket- and sword fighting. It´s brutal, it´s gory but never over-exaggerating, always believable. This is what makes “Master and Commander” a true rollercoaster ride, from blood-soaked ship decks to the half-drunken laughter and naughty jokes when the officers dine, enjoying their rare spare time. It´s seldom nowadays to watch a recent movie with this level of attention and storytelling craftsmanship.
Then and now: An impossible film to make
No wonder that “Master and Commander” received no less than ten Oscar nominations, of which it won two (most of which were absorbed by “Lord of the Rings”). Absolutely deserved! A sequel, to close the circle here, has always been discussed and even today this topic comes up now and then. Russel Crowe himself has expressed his willingness to take on the role of Captain Aubrey, but it never got made. Which is a shame, because I think the time window to do so has been closed anyway. Crowe and the other actors are much too old now. And even if you could envision a script that takes place 25 years after the events of “Master and Commander” – haven´t we had enough of 60 and 70 years old actors? I mean, did you watch “Picard”? Now we´re talking!
The good old SURPRISE is still there, by the way. She has been build in Nova Scotia as a replica of H.M.S. ROSE, a 1757 postal ship, originally. Her bow, the stern of course and the gun deck were among heavy reconstruction and re-design efforts to transform the old civilian training vessel into H.M.S. SURPRISE for the movie. She is on display at the San Diego Maritime Museum and I am sure it would be possible to use her for a potential sequel. Fun fact: This ship has also been utilized for a “Pirates of the Caribbean”-sequel, the franchise that kind of “killed” another “Master and Commander”-flick in the first place.
By the way, if visiting SURPRISE in the US is too far for you, there are so many authentic and replicated ships to be seen in Europe as well: Recently, I´ve paid my tribute to legendary clipper CUTTY SARK and the replica of Sir Francis Drake´s GOLDEN HINDE in London. There is the awesome brand new museum aboard the Flying-P-Liner PEKING in Hamburg and many, many more. Yet, if you want to get a feeling for Napoleonic wars, there´s the H.M.S. VICTORY in Portsmouth, UK or TRINCOMALEE (Hartlepool, UK) and UNICORN (Scotland) as well.
A precious movie gem
But back to the movie. My kids really enjoyed the film. Much more than that, talking about it the next day at the breakfast table, I realized that they learned a lot too: About how life aboard ships of that time was like, how especially children had to “serve” and do their part, they even recognized the struggle of friendship versus military obedience, which is astonishing for 9 and 12 year olds, I´d say. “Master and Commander” is a fun movie, gripping, heartbreaking and funny – it has everything a cinematic gem should have, and its late fame is more than deserve. An intelligent, awe-inspiring classic that will be watched in decades to come, I am sure.
That said, I am both sad that the sequel didn´t happen immediately after the release. And I am very happy on the other hand that Hollywood, at least for now, did not dare to touch this jewel for a “modern” sequel. There are far too many franchises which have been ripped apart and destroyed, let “Master and Commander” be what it is – an exceptionally good movie. The rest in in our imagination, where a sequel is surely better off nowadays.
Pictures © by Miramax
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